Garden Fresh, a local horticultural exporter, has seen remarkable growth since it began exporting in 2016. The company's annual export value has risen from less than $1 million to more than $3.5 million today, while its export volume has increased from 200 to 1,000 tonnes per year. Its workforce has expanded from 50 to 500 employees, supplying French beans, chilli, broccoli, avocados, and passion fruits to European and Gulf markets.
This success reflects the broader transformation of Rwanda's horticulture sector, which has grown from $5.8 million in export revenues in 2015/16 to $86.2 million in 2024/25. Vegetable export volumes alone climbed from 51,680 tonnes in 2022/23 to 69,330 tonnes in 2024/25, with earnings rising accordingly.
Industry actors attribute this growth to major investments in irrigation, improved seeds, and expanded cold-chain infrastructure, including increased cold-storage capacity and more refrigerated trucks. Government initiatives such as subsidised freight, sea-freight trials, and partnerships with RwandAir have strengthened market access to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
Despite challenges such as high post-harvest losses and limited financing for irrigation, ongoing national programmes are helping farmers improve production, reduce losses, and expand into high-value crops like avocado, mango, and chilli.
Source: /www.newtimes.co.rw
